Cattle Market Pulse

Bluegrass Stockyard Market Report

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, February 5, 2025

719 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Bluegrass Stockyard report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $289.31/cwt +36.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,890/hd at 653 lb · 81 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $267.48/cwt -24.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,404/hd at 525 lb · 31 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $302.72/cwt +3.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,313/hd at 434 lb · 29 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 719 1,127 1,208
Feeder cattle 641 1,027 1,067
Slaughter cattle 55 68 116
Replacement cattle 23 32 25

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Wednesday feeders steers sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 lower with most decline on 550-800 lb offerings. Yearling steers over 800 lbs sold steady with good demand in a lite test. Feeder heifers sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 lower with moderate demand except 300-400 lbs traded firm with good demand and a yearling load of attractive quality reputation heifers was well received with very good buyer participation and very good demand. Fleshy short-weaned calves and single head lots facing discounts. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower with moderate demand; except lean cows 3.00 higher with good demand. Slaughter bulls sold steady with good demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–312 value added 311 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,057 +7.70
355–375 362 3 328.00–340.00 $334.44 $1,211 -20.16
370–375 value added 372 3 350.00–392.50 $377.38 $1,404 -13.43
410–430 value added 420 2 330.00–340.00 $335.12 $1,408 -5.35
400–445 423 6 300.00–320.00 $308.56 $1,305 -12.76
470 470 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,434 -11.58
465–495 value added 473 4 325.00–351.00 $342.10 $1,618 -12.31
500–530 value added 508 11 315.00–320.00 $317.08 $1,611 +0.79
557–585 value added 562 6 290.00–300.00 $293.30 $1,648 -33.31
582 582 5 270.00 $270.00 $1,571 -20.80
600–635 value added 618 14 256.00–290.00 $263.65 $1,629 -28.92
620–630 625 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,575 -22.52
660–687 value added 678 12 254.00–261.00 $257.61 $1,747 -34.39
745 745 2 243.00 $243.00 $1,810 -1.65
770 770 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,879 -6.00
778 value added 778 7 251.00 $251.00 $1,953 -21.36
802–823 820 16 240.00–247.75 $246.44 $2,021 +3.41
872 872 5 241.50 $241.50 $2,106 +14.83
917 917 4 237.50 $237.50 $2,178 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 262.50 $262.50 $748 —
445 445 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,335 —
490 490 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,298 -14.11
515–545 530 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,378 +2.31
562–592 578 10 247.00–265.00 $254.73 $1,472 -0.27
635 635 1 249.00 $249.00 $1,581 -8.99
683 683 3 246.00 $246.00 $1,680 +3.93
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 285.00 $285.00 $912 —
525 525 1 266.00 $266.00 $1,396 —
556–557 556 5 270.00 $270.00 $1,501 -2.73
785 785 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,821 -14.00
900 900 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,863 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–335 325 2 245.00–250.00 $247.58 $805 —
370 370 1 225.00 $225.00 $832 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 1 165.00 $165.00 $2,170 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 200.00 $200.00 $920 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175 175 1 300.00 $300.00 $525 —
265–275 270 2 317.00–340.00 $328.71 $888 +18.71
307–335 317 4 230.00–285.00 $270.48 $857 -44.52
360–392 value added 376 8 325.00–340.00 $334.79 $1,259 +12.28
365–387 379 6 290.00–310.00 $302.71 $1,147 +4.12
417 417 2 277.50 $277.50 $1,157 -2.50
425–447 value added 435 27 284.00–319.00 $304.59 $1,325 +3.50
450–486 value added 473 19 280.00–300.00 $291.83 $1,380 -6.68
470–495 480 4 261.00–272.50 $268.80 $1,290 -12.43
500–547 value added 523 12 265.00–277.50 $270.11 $1,413 -9.73
510–535 523 11 252.00–264.00 $258.69 $1,353 -5.53
555–580 568 6 253.00–265.00 $259.71 $1,475 -6.32
560–588 value added 569 16 266.00–276.00 $272.49 $1,550 -5.07
615 615 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,421 -7.33
600–628 value added 619 17 244.00–266.00 $252.74 $1,564 -24.93
653 value added 653 80 290.00 $290.00 $1,894 +33.42
665 665 1 234.00 $234.00 $1,556 -9.05
700–710 702 9 225.00–230.00 $228.11 $1,601 -4.90
800–805 803 2 195.00–201.00 $197.99 $1,590 -11.52
890 890 3 224.00 $224.00 $1,994 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–325 312 3 225.00–280.00 $258.88 $808 -23.43
365–395 383 5 205.00–271.00 $229.57 $879 -39.60
402–435 413 3 220.00–250.00 $230.53 $952 -8.53
465–495 485 4 230.00–255.00 $241.28 $1,170 -14.09
508–543 526 11 230.00–252.00 $239.33 $1,259 -10.58
550–590 582 12 222.00–245.00 $238.67 $1,389 +3.82
635 635 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,283 -14.14
660 660 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,386 -21.30
700–720 710 2 210.00–212.00 $211.01 $1,498 -1.67
755 755 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,623 +4.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 280.00 $280.00 $966 —
540 540 4 262.00 $262.00 $1,415 +0.31
625 625 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,453 —
720 720 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,562 -11.00
770 770 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,656 +22.00
805 805 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,610 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,160 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 330.00 $330.00 $594 —
300–310 305 2 329.00–330.00 $329.51 $1,005 —
310–341 value added 337 7 345.00–350.00 $345.66 $1,165 —
360–382 value added 371 4 340.00–375.00 $362.14 $1,344 —
350–390 375 4 316.00–325.00 $319.09 $1,197 -43.36
400–440 421 6 275.00–320.00 $290.24 $1,222 -24.60
420–445 value added 433 2 327.00–360.00 $343.02 $1,485 +5.08
460–483 value added 469 9 285.00–310.00 $291.70 $1,368 -50.94
470–492 482 9 260.00–281.00 $270.33 $1,303 -21.91
500–510 value added 503 6 282.50–295.00 $290.35 $1,460 -11.54
500–545 530 25 254.00–278.00 $261.99 $1,389 -18.79
552–595 575 13 252.00–266.00 $258.99 $1,489 -14.54
610–640 616 5 237.00–243.00 $238.60 $1,470 -13.33
650–690 673 10 237.00–246.00 $241.77 $1,627 -6.74
705–745 726 4 233.00–237.00 $234.71 $1,704 +15.86
727 value added 727 7 244.00 $244.00 $1,774 —
755–790 768 8 201.00–234.00 $221.21 $1,699 +16.28
800–825 812 3 199.00–223.00 $209.55 $1,702 +9.55
892 892 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,891 —
915–935 923 3 192.00–211.00 $202.66 $1,871 —
955 955 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,862 —
1010 1010 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,970 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 2 290.00–300.00 $295.00 $870 —
335 335 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,038 +7.84
405 405 2 230.00–267.50 $248.75 $1,007 -28.16
450 450 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,192 -15.70
520–540 530 2 240.00–250.00 $245.09 $1,299 -19.81
555–587 572 6 220.00–252.00 $238.28 $1,363 -12.42
615–620 618 2 230.00–232.00 $231.00 $1,428 -3.92
665 665 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,264 -40.32
725–740 733 2 200.00–212.00 $206.06 $1,510 -6.61
785 785 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,531 -11.02
885 885 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,549 +4.50
935 935 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,608 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 2 245.00–252.50 $248.75 $771 —
430 430 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,000 —
455–490 467 3 200.00–230.00 $210.50 $983 -9.50
500–545 530 3 215.00–220.00 $218.29 $1,157 -4.11
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,150 —
570 570 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,436 —
637 637 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,529 —
670 670 1 237.00 $237.00 $1,588 —
790 790 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,722 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–1225 971 85-90% 7 95.00–101.00 $98.45 $956 -2.55
780–1270 1060 85-90% 5 103.00–110.00 $106.82 $1,132 -17.45
985–1200 1096 85-90% 4 114.00–118.00 $116.57 $1,278 -7.70
925–1295 1122 85-90% 5 120.00–130.00 $124.69 $1,399 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1805 1453 75-80% 5 124.00–130.00 $127.56 $1,853 —
1240–1615 1487 75-80% 3 138.50–142.00 $140.67 $2,092 —
1355–1700 1528 75-80% 2 130.50–133.50 $131.83 $2,014 -3.11
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1390 1269 80-85% 4 130.50–134.00 $132.54 $1,682 +2.79
1340–1385 1363 80-85% 2 119.00–130.00 $124.41 $1,696 -17.96
1420–1485 1450 80-85% 3 139.00–144.00 $142.13 $2,061 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–2045 1599 8 151.00–158.00 $156.02 $2,495 —
1610–1930 1816 4 165.00–179.00 $171.35 $3,112 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
970–990 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 131.00–134.00 $132.52 $1,299
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910 910 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,388

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
955–1240 1072 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,525.00–1,675.00 $1,579.50
1102 1102 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,550.00 $1,550.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075–1420 1161 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,725.00–1,850.00 $1,811.79
1315–1350 1333 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,850.00–1,950.00 $1,899.34

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1460 1460 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.